Lexus Unveils 2010 HS 250h Hybrid; Second Hybrid-only Vehicle in Toyota Line-up
GM Unveils New Cadillac Extended Range Electric Vehicle Concept; “Voltec” Platform

Ford Rolls Out Accelerated Plan for HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs; To Partner with Magna on BEVs, First One Due in 2011 (corrected)

Fordbev
Elements of the 2011 Ford/Magna BEV. Click to enlarge.

Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford unveiled an accelerated plan to bring next-generation hybrid-electric (HEV); a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV); and battery-electric (BEV) vehicles to market quickly and more affordably during the next four years.

The plan, unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, leverages Ford’s work with a range of partners—utilities, suppliers, policymakers and universities—in areas including batteries, manufacturing and infrastructure. For starters, Ford will introduce in North America:

  • A new battery electric commercial van in 2010. In the UK, Ford is collaborating with Tanfield to offer battery-electric versions of the Ford Transit and Transit Connect commercial vehicles for fleet customers in the UK and European markets. (Earlier post.)

  • A new battery electric small car in 2011 to be developed jointly with Magna International. The electric powertrain will be applied in a new-generation C-sized global vehicle platform. The BEV will first be introduced in North America, with the potential to migrate to the European and Asia Pacific markets down the road.

    Ford plans to introduce electrified powertrains (battery electric or plug-in hybrid) into two major new global product platforms: a new Focus-size C-car platform and another Fusion-size, CD segment platform. By 2012, Bill Ford said, the company will have four high-mileage BEVs. (The likely development direction for BEVs is to move onto smaller platforms—e.g., down to a B-size platform—from the C-size, according to Barb Samardzich, Ford Vice President of Powertrain Engineering.)

  • Next-generation hybrid vehicles, including a plug-in version by 2012.

“We’ve explored and tested many different technologies for the future and we’re convinced that electrification is the next major shift in the light-duty transport sector. ”
— Nancy Gioia, director of Sustained Mobility Technology for Ford Motor Company

New BEV by 2011. Ford is collaborating with Magna International on the new battery electric vehicle targeted for 2011. Magna will provide the BEV electric traction motor, transmission, motor controller, Lithium-ion energy storage system, battery charger and related systems. Magna will also share in the engineering responsibility to integrate the electric propulsion system and other new systems into the vehicle platform architecture.

The BEV technology is already applied in a Ford Focus mule that has been in road testing for the past six months.

Fordmulepack
Battery pack in the BEV mule. Click to enlarge.

The 23 kWh battery pack comprises seven modules of 14 lithium-ion cells. The battery arrays are packaged in the vehicle trunk and underseat space. The new electric vehicle has a targeted pack range of up to 100 miles on a single charge. The system currently under test in the mule is delivering 80 miles on a single charge. The BEV test vehicle can be charged from either a standard 220-volt or 110-volt power outlet, with respective charge times of 6 or 12 hours.

A motor controller and inverter convert the battery’s direct current to AC. A 100 kW permanent-magnet, chassis-mounted electric traction motor operates on three-phase alternating current (AC). The BEV uses a single-speed transmission.

The powertrain, including the motor and gearbox, are packaged under the hood just like a gasoline powertrain, using existing powertrain mounts. This makes the electrified vehicle uncompromised in terms of robustness and low noise and vibration.

The test unit incorporates key components from Ford’s hybrid technology, including the electric climate control system. The high-voltage air-conditioning compressor is the same found in the new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Bevunderhood
Under the hood of the BEV mule. Click to enlarge.

In October 2008, Magna Electronics, an operating unit of Magna International Inc., acquired BluWav Systems LLC (formerly Wavecrest Laboratories), a developer and supplier of controls, motors and energy-management systems for hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and battery electric vehicles. (Earlier post.)

BluWav had concentrated on five main product areas: Motor design; Motor control hardware, software, and drive electronics; Vehicle requirements analysis, system optimization, and performance validation; Vehicle control systems; and Energy storage systems.

Grants and Partnerships. The US Department of Energy (DOE) also has awarded Ford Motor Company a $10 million grant for research, development and demonstration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). Ford received the grant for the continued development of a demonstration fleet of 20 PHEVs. The total project cost is $20 million; the government will fund $10 million of the program.

In June, Ford delivered the first flexible fuel capable plug-in hybrid electric SUV to the Department of Energy. (Earlier post.) The Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid, capable of running on gasoline or E85, is part of the demonstration fleet Ford is developing in partnership with Southern California Edison, the Electric Power Research Institute and Johnson Controls-Saft.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is collaborating with Ford Motor Company on a three-year analysis to evaluate technical approaches for integrating PHEVs into the nation’s electric grid system, a key requirement to facilitate widespread adoption of the vehicles.

Ford also has entered into a four-way “Eco-Partnership” in China to expand its global expertise with electric-powered vehicles. Ford, Changan Auto Group and the cities of Chongqing, China and Denver, Colo., are exploring ways to develop projects to help further energy security and promote economic and environmental sustainability. Areas of focus could include developing electrified vehicle technologies, green city planning, efficient urban transportation and grid integration.

Comments

Bob Uppendown

No mention of who Ford will be partnering with on that 2010 electric van. But can it be anyone other than Smith Electric Vehicles? (the UK company owned by Tanfield Group, who do get a mention as Ford's partner in Europe - on the same vans that are now expected to be built in America). Presumably full details of that will emerge 9 weeks from now at the Work Trucks show in Chicago, where the exhibitor list includes "Smith/Ford" in the Greentrucks section. The show is listed on the Events page at Smith's website http://www.smithelectricvehicles.com

kelly

When I was 16, I brazed together an aluminum frame, added wheels etc, and a chainsaw engine. That scooter did 25 mph and ran for years(built a go-kart earlier).

One (c)ould mate a buggy w/o gas engine:
http://www.powersportsmax.com/product_info.php/products_id/297?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Go%20Karts
250cc 55mph 16 hp(~$2k) With a active wheel($2k?):
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10110393-48.html active wheel 40 hp. With lead/acid batteries/controller(~$1k) initially for a 3-wheeler(no fed crash testing required(4 pt belt/rollbar already)) capable of 70 mph/mi range.
Enclose with fiberglass or a moldable foam rubber that hardens with an epoxy coating(not sure if product exists yet).
I drive over 50 mi/day maybe 10 days a year. Cars aren't rocket science. The BYD F3DM was built by a Chinese firm with five years of car experience. Dump the oil/auto cartel and work on a real challenge like affordable health care.

ejj

Ford=Fix Or Repair Daily

Gerald Shields

Sorry ejj, but Ford is the only american automaker who is showing us the money. To kelly: So I guess you WILL be supporting H.R. 626 then ;)

Reel$$

More good plans. Ford should jump on their recent wins in mileage especially the Fusion Hybrid. That they're beating Japan at their own game is a big marketing point. At the moment Ford suffers from general lack of perception that they're actually making green cars.

creativforce

Amen, Bob U. you are absolutely right. Cars are only rocket science if you take an existing ICE model and try to retrofit it with new technology. Those Michelin wheel motors are slick and could be mounted on just about anything. Aptera has the right idea ... throw out the baby and the bathwater. Then think about how to move four passengers using state of the art technology, instead of trying to upgrade the Model T's grandkids.

fp

Thanks for this information. I've referenced it in a post at Super Eco. I'm glad car makers are moving ahead with plans for electric models, but I'm wondering how and when they will standardize a charging system. Will we swap batteries like we swap LP containers for our gas grills, or will we have some kind of flash recharge of capacitors or will municipalities provide slow charge plug-ins at parking spaces? Or what?
Frank Paynter

Sasparilla

>> but I'm wondering how and when they will standardize a charging system. <<

Frank, this is a great question and I think the answer will be - when the government reacts to the mess and steps in and forces a standard (I'll take a guess and say 15 years from now). In the mean time every company will have a different, better, charging system & connector than every other company (maybe different between models).

Way back in the time of the EV1 (7 years ago?), GM, Toyota and I think another company had agreed on a standard for one - I think (an inductive charging paddle with no external metal contact for the user to short out and hurt themselves with). But looking at the Volt prototypes, its obvious that the charging paddle is long forgotten in GM's mind - and there seems to be no standardization elsewhere.

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